Signaling apparatus



Filed Oct. 29,, 1930 Patented June 6, 1933 "UNlTED S T-ATES PATENT OFFICE ADDIE e001 or HrcKsvInLE, 01110 SIGNALING APPARATUS Application filed October 29,1930. Serial No. 491,981.

This invention relatesto improvements in signal appliances 1 for automobiles, especially adapted for indicating the intended perform? ance of the driver of the automobile. One

of the objects of the invention is to provide an illuminated signal andameans; for extending the signal from the side of a vehicle atthe will of the driver by operating an electric switch that controls the illuminating means as well as the means for extending the signal. A y A i A An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in-which:A-lw I l Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a structure in which the inventionisernbodied with the signal in extended position, and also shown in dotted outline partially collapsed, a portion of the structure being broken, away;

" 9 i Fig. 2 is a bottom plan viewprojected from Fig. 1, a portion beingin section, A A Fig. 3 is a detail view upon an enlarged scale showing a horizontal sectionof a valve forming part of the structure; f w A AFig. 4 is a detail view, also upon anenlarged scale, showing a gear mechanism for actuating the signal member; p

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofAone of the lazy tong members forming part of the mechl A anismfor extending thesignal'; and

Fig.6 is a diagram showing the electrical connections for controlling thesignaland its actuating mechanism. a i A The structure shown in the drawing con- 5 sists of a housing 1 provided at one side thereof with a bracket 2 adapted to besecured to avehicle body (not shown) by which the housing is supported in horizontal position. The back 80f the housing is closed, the front 4 is open, and also the bottom has an opening 4" therein. Within the housing adjacent its closedend is disposed transversely a shaft 5, upon which is mounted an U-sh'aped' rocker 6 having arms 7 spaced apart in parallel re- A lation with each other. Also, uponsaid shaft are pivoted a pair of arms 8. The arms 7 of the rocker 6 and the arms 8 are pivotedlyconnected respectively with a series of connected links 9 and 10 that constitute a pair of lazy tongs spacedqapart, said pairs of Ilazy ibetween tongs being connected together by a series oftransversely disposed shafts 11, 12 and 13, said pair of lazy tongs constituting an ex tensible arm adapted tobe folded within the housing 1 as when it is collapsed or projectedoutwardly therefrom when extended.

One of the outermost links 14 of each of the lazy tongs has an extension 15 and has secured upon theinner face thereof a case 16 in= which. is contained a corresponding 5 pair of gears 17 Aand 18. Eachgear 17 is secured upon a stub 19 that is rigidly secured to the arm 20 of the corresponding lazy tong, the arms 14 of said lazy tongs having pivotalmovement upon the corresponding stubs 55 19; Thus, when the lazy tongs are actuated, the gears 17 have movement corresponding with the arms 20 of, said lazy tongs. 1

The gears 18 are secured upon ashaft 21 that extend loosely through the extensions A 15 respectively on the outer ends of the links 14, and mesh respectively with the gears 17 so that as the lazy tongs are actu atedrotary movement is imparted to the shaft 21 through the medium of the gears 17' and 18. 'A A q 1 Upon the shaft 21 is secured a bracket 22 that hasattached thereto a frame 23, and to said frame is secured a signal member 24. Preferably, the signal member is a transparency made in the form of a human hand, in which are disposed one or more electric lamps 25 conveniently mounted upon the frame 23 so as to project intothe transparency. The frame 23 together with the signal member 24 is moved about the axis of the shaft 21 through the medium of the gears 17 and 18 when the lazy tongs are actuated, and the signalimember is disposed in its outermost position when the lazy tongs are fully extended, and the signal member by turning upon the axis of the shaft '21, when the lazy tongs are collapsed, is. moved into the housing through the slot 4" in the bottom thereof and said pair of lazy tongsso as to be: concealed within the housing. A

Upon the links 14 of the lazy tongs are secured arms 26 that support a lid 27 by means of a pivot 28 connected therewith, the lid be ing so disposed as to close the front end of the housing 1 when the lazy tongs and the signal member are collapsed into the housing. Preferably, a coil spring 29 positioned on the pivot and having actuating relation with the lid is provided which tends to cause the lid to move into closed position when the extensible arm and its signal are collapsed.

The lamps 25 are supplied with current by means of a flexible conductor 30 that is supported by one of the lazy tongs so as to fold therewith, one end of the conductor being extended through the housing 1 at the lower rear end thereof. The conductor is connected with one pole of a battery 31, the opposite pole of which is grounded as indicated at 32. Also, the opposite end of the conductor 30 is grounded as indicated at 33, The conductor 30 is controlled by means of a switch 34 that is located conveniently within the reach of the driver.

The extensible arm constituted of the lazy tongs is horizontally supported by means of the shaft 5 at the rear end thereof and by alined stubs 35 and 36 that project outwardly from the lazy tongs correspondingly through horizontal guide slots 35 and 36 made in the sides of the housing 1 in which the stubs have sliding movement. The stub 35 has secured on its outer end a cross head 37 that has connection with a piston rod 38 by which movement is imparted through the medium of the cross head to the extensible arm whereby said arm is extended or collapsed. The piston rod 38 has on its end opposite the cross head a piston head 39 that is contained in a cylinder 40 positioned upon the housing 1. The piston head 39 is actuated in one direction or the other by establishing vacuum in the corresponding ends of'the cylinder.

A. valve body 41 is mounted upon the side of the housing 1 and has a sliding valve 42 therein and is provided with a suction port 43 that is connected by means of a pipe 44 with the intake manifold of the engine of the'vehicle (not shown). The body has located therein adjacent one side of the suction port a second port 45 that is connected with the forward end of the cylinder 40 by means of a' pipe 46, and has also a third port 47 located at a point adjacent the suction port 43 upon the side thereof opposite said second port, said third port having connection with the rear end of the cylinder 40 by means of a pipe 48. The valve 42 has a side pocket 49 proportioned so as to connect the suction port 43 with the second port 45 or the third port 47 accordingly as the valve 42 is positioned in the body 41. Also, the valve 42 has made in its side vent slots 50 and 51 located respectively adjacent the opposite ends of the pocket 49, whereby air is admitted to the corresponding ends of the cylinder40 through their connected ports accordingly as the valve is positioned. As an example, when the suction port 43 and the second port 45 have communication through the pocket 49 of the valve, vacuum is established in the forward end of the cylinder 40 causing forward movement of the piston rod 49 and consequent outward movement of the extensible arm, and concurrently therewith air is admitted to the rear end of the cylinder 40 through the vent slot 51 and said third port 47. When the valve 42 is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 3 the suction port 43 and said third port 47 have communication through the pocket 49 in the valve, and said second port 45 has communication with the external atmosphere through the vent slot 50, whereupon vacuum is established in the rear end of the cylinder 40, causing reaction of the pistonhead 39 and consequent collapse of the arm and signal.

A shelter 52 is secured to one side of the housing 1 that extends over the slot 36 and accommodates the outer end of the stub 36, and also, another shelter 53 is positioned upon the opposite side of the housing 1 that covers a portion of the cylinder 40 and the valve mechanism 41. V As a means for actuating the valve 42 a solenoid 54 is positioned upon the valve body 41, which solenoid is provided with a plunger 55 having'a stem 56 that extends through the head 57 of the valve so when the solenoid is energized the plunger and valve are activated accordingly. The valve has thereon a compression spring 58, one end of which bears against one end of the valve body 41 and at its opposite end against a washer 59 secured on the outer end of the valve 42, whereby the valve is normally held in its forwardmost position so that communication is maintained betweenthe suction line 44 and the rear end of the cylinder 40. In this manner the piston head 39 is normally held in its rearwardmost position and the extensible arm and signal member in their collapsed positions.

The solenoid 54 is supplied with current through a conductor 60 that is connected with the conductor 30 at one end and is grounded, as indicated by 61, the connection between the conductors 60 and 30 being made so that and have the effect of stabilizing the outer end 4.

of the extensible arm in a manner similar to that'efif'eeted by the U-shaped rocker 6 with respect'to the inner end of the extensible arm.

In operating the invention, the housing is secured in horizontal of the vehicle with its open end 4 extending position on the body lnunication between the suction thus the signal member is displayed outwardly from the side of the car adjacent the drivers position, and the switch 34 is located at a point conveniently accessibleto the driver. Upon closing of the switch 34 current from the battery is supplied to the signal lamps and the solenoid 54, whereupon the lamps are energized and the signal member illuminated, and concurrently the solenoid is energized and the valve 42 is thereby moved to its rearwardmost position sothat the pocket 49 in the valve establishes comport 45, and the third port 47 is vented through the slot 51. Because of vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine of the vehicle and the communication established between the suction port 43 and the second port 45 by the pocket in the valve, the piston head is drawn for wardly in the cylinder causing the extensible arm and the signal member attached thereto to move outwardly into exposed position and to the approaching and following traflic. Upon opening of the switch 34 the signal lamps and solenoid are de-energized, whereupon the valve 42 and the plunger are moved to their normal position through the action of the spring 58 which causes the extensible arm and signal to become collapsed within the housing.

I claim 1. In a signal appliance, a housing having an opening therein, an arm extensible through said opening and constituted of a rocker pivoted within the housing having spaced parallel arms and a pair of lazy tongs operatively related respectively'with the arms of said rocker, guides supporting said lazy tongs in operative position, a signal member having pivotal support upon the outer end of the extensible arm, gearing operatively associated with said lazy tongs and the signal member adapted to turn said member upon its pivotal support as said arm is actuated, and means for imparting movement to said eX- tensible arm.

2. In a signal appliance, a housing having an opening in one end thereof, a pair of lazy tongs spaced apart in parallel relation with each other and constituting an extensible arm, one end of which is supported in the end of said housing opposite the opening therein, a signal member pivotedly supported upon the outer end of said arm, mechanism operatively relating said arm and the signal member to impart turning movement to said member apart in parallel relation with each other and constituting an extensible arm, sliding supports in the housing forsaid arm, a signal member pivotedly supported upon the outer ends of said lazy tongs, mechanism operativ-el connecting said arms with the si nal member whereby said signal member is olded into said housing between said lazy tongs when said arm is collapsed, a lid pivotedly supported and operatively related with said arm adapted to close said opening when said arm is collapsed and said signal is in folded position, and means to actuate said arm.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ADDIE GOOD.

as said arm is actuated, a lid pivotedly supported on said arm adjacent said member adapted to close the end of said housing when said arm is collapsed and drawn into said housing, and manually controlled means for imparting movement for actuating said arm.

3. In a signal appliance, a housing having an opening in one end thereof, a pair of lazy tongs secured within the housing, spaced 

